Heartening to see Guyanese appreciating a non-traditional sport

Mar 02, 2010 Letters

Dear Editor,
North American-based Guyanese seem to have enjoyed the final for the gold medal in ice hockey between the US and Canada. That was the subject of this conversation on Sunday night (28-02-10) and again on Monday (01-03-10).
There was much jubilation and cheers as Guyanese talked about how their teams scored their goals in a thrilling finish. It was love for the competition and patriotism in supporting their newly adopted countries.
I am not much of a fan of winter sports or of North American sports. But many Guyanese seem to have keenly followed the final between the US and Canada in Vancouver as the Winter Olympics concluded.
In conversations, Guyanese Canadians supported their country’s team while Guyanese Americans supported their team which lost in a thrilling finish, a disappointment to those who cheered the team. I do admit that I watched some of the game especially when the Canadians scored and it was an exciting match. I prefer field hockey and am following the World hockey championship now under way in India – England beat Australia, Spain triumph over South Africa, and India steamroll Pakistan.
The US-Canada ice hockey match was gripping and nerve racking and Guyanese seemed to have enjoyed it every bit of it. It was a fun-filled entertaining match. Not surprisingly, Guyanese joined other Canadians to celebrate the victory while New York-based Guyanese congratulated their counterparts for a match well played. It was a well deserved victory.
At one sports bar, Guyanese jumped into the air when America scored and dejected when Canada scored. Some danced and in some cases tear appeared on the faces of some when Team America lost. I am glad to see people support or celebrate the victory of their national team. It makes Guyanese feel closer to their new homelands giving them a sense of pride of who they are. Everyone seems to be in a festive mood celebrating the victory. It is reported that there was much revelry in Toronto among Guyanese as well. Friends wrote in emails they “beat us (Americans”.
It was heartening to see Guyanese appreciating a non-traditional sport (not cricket) and attempting to become part of the mainstream of North American sporting events. It is hoped they will not remain on the sidelines as cheerleaders but will in due course become actual participants in American sports. Nationals from Latin America, Asia and Africa are increasingly become involved in American sports. Guyanese should follow suit because big money is in it.
Players are signed to multi-million dollar contracts every year. While cricket is a great sport and more should be done to institutionalize it in America and Canada, it is nowhere close to being a mainstream sport in America that will attract big sponsors or recognition from governments. So Guyanese Americans should consider becoming involved in other sports as well that will earn them a living and hopefully one day we can see Guyanese playing in an Olympic game for their adopted homeland.
Vishnu Bisram

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